With just a few days until Australian coach Stacey Marinkovich reveals her squad for the upcoming World Cup, Fox Netball pundit Erin Delahunty predicts who’ll be on the plane.
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DEFENCE
Courtney Bruce
Given her performance at last year’s Commonwealth Games and subsequent international form, “Bruce Almighty” was a lock for the World Cup side before the 2023 Super Netball season began. But just for good measure, the finals-bound West Coast Fever captain has put in another brilliant domestic season, sitting near the top for most key defensive metrics and regularly beating the best shooters in the world. Despite the recent form of Sarah Klau, 29-year-old Bruce will be Marinkovich’s go-to keeper – and “break glass in case of emergency” goal defence – in Cape Town based on form, experience and leadership.
Jo Weston
It’s a testament to the skill, reliability and consistency of 29-year-old Weston that she looks set to be picked in the World Cup 12 ahead of two younger squad members in scintillating form; Ruby Bakewell-Doran and Matilda Garrett. Weston’s experience and efforts in pinnacle events – she won gold in Birmingham and was part of the losing 2019 World Cup side in Liverpool – and history against big names in big games will get the nod ahead of her apprentices, despite a few injury niggles this year. The grinding Melbourne Vixen’s capacity to cover wing defence is also a big tick.
Sarah Klau
With Marinkovich watching on, Klau put on a show in the Swifts’ 13-goal win over the Queensland Firebirds at Nissan Arena on Sunday, picking up eight gains and being named MVP. The 28-year-old helped her side secure the minor premiership and a home semi-final – and not-so-quietly reminded Marinkovich why she needs to be in the final 12, amid growing competition. At 190cm, the Birmingham gold medallist is one of the tallest of the current crop of Aussie defenders, meaning she’s a natural match-up for towering goalers like Jamaican superstar Jhaniele Fowler, but it’s her footwork and attack on the ball that sets her apart.
Swifts secure top spot against Firebirds | 01:07
Sunday Aryang
The “Bruce connection”, minutes at wing defence and international exposure will see 22-year-old Aryang selected for her second major tournament – after being part of the successful Commonwealth team in 2022. The first African-born Australian to play for the Diamonds, it’s expected Aryang will just nudge Bakewell-Doran for the final place in the defensive line. Her connection with Bruce, who she plays with at West Coast Fever, and positional versatility, combined with her ability to read the play and stay out of penalty trouble will see her play a vital role at the Cup, especially in the early rounds.
Reserve: Ruby Bakewell-Doran
Bakewell-Doran – who last season earned the moniker of “The Notorious RBD” for being fearless and fair and with a tireless work ethic, like the US legal and feminist icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg – will be unlucky to miss out on the 12. But she should be named as the travelling reserve, who can be added in cases of injury or illness. The rangy 24-year-old Queensland Firebird, who had a breakout year in 2022, has continued to impress with her superb footwork, decision-making and closing speed. With just one Super Netball home and away round to go, she sits in the top five for intercepts and defensive rebounds.
MIDCOURT
Liz Watson
While there are half a dozen names in the mix for four midcourt positions, the national captain is the definition of a certainty. Arguably the best midcourter – if not player – on the planet, Watson will be central to Australia’s game plan, setting up plays, taking the lion’s share of centre passes at wing attack and feeding shooters with precision. The 29-year-old Melbourne Vixen has played some centre this Super Netball season, but will slip back into WA in the green and gold, pairing with Paige Hadley. Having led the Diamonds to Commonwealth, Constellation Cup and Quad Series victories in the past year or so, cool-headed Watson has the knowledge and nature to help Australia claim the final trophy that still alludes.
Fever jump to second after Giants win | 00:43
Paige Hadley
They say “you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone”, and that was the case at the Birmingham Games when 2015 World Cup winner Hadley aggravated a recurring calf injury a few games in and had to sit out the rest of the tournament. The 30-year-old’s value to the Diamonds was evident and it’s hard to see her being overlooked for South Africa given her recent domination in both the red and gold dress. Hadley has been a driving force in the Swifts’ 2023 title tilt, delivering the ball on a platter and winning virtually every one-on-one contest she’s had this season.
Jamie-Lee Price
It appears missing out on the 2022 Commonwealth Games team lit a fire under 27-year-old Price, who this week played her 150th national league game for the Giants. Price, who started her career as a wing defence but has evolved to predominately play centre domestically, has worked on her attacking game – one of her perceived weaknesses – and discipline. She’s now considered the full package, an adaptable player who can cover centre and wing defence, something that appeals to Marinkovich. A combination of ball-winning capability and physical presence makes Price a formidable opponent whether at centre or wing defence, where thankless grunt work is a KPI.
Ash Brazill
If selected in the final 12 as most expect, 33-year-old Brazill – who was part of the gold-medal winning side in Birmingham – will be afforded the rare privilege of a “farewell tour”. Brazill, who has announced she won’t play on next year, hasn’t had her best national league season but the accepted wisdom is Marinkovich wants squad continuity and positional flexibility. And the NSW-born wing defence/centre has both in spades. Brazill’s explosive athleticism and track record against the best will get her over the line ahead of Kate Moloney and Amy Parmenter, who would both be desperately unlucky to not make the cut.
Reserve: Kate Moloney
Given how vital she proved in the triumphant Commonwealth Games campaign in Birmingham last year, especially after Hadley went down with injury, Moloney would rightfully assume she’s a strong chance for the Cup. But with the rise of Price in 2023 and Marinkovich’s apparent preference for Brazill at wing defence, there may be no room for the Vixen co-captain in the 12. The 30-year-old can play across all three midcourt positions, making her an ideal reserve though. Having her with the squad in Cape Town also provides another strong leader to the group, even if she’s not on the court.
GOALS
Steph Wood
The Australian vice-captain and Birmingham gold medallist is the kind of player who wants the ball in her hand when the big moments arrive … and has the goods to score under pressure, making her a lock. With Gretel Bueta not in the squad through pregnancy, 31-year-old Wood will be pivotal to the Diamonds’ success or otherwise in Cape Town. It’s not just her shooting volume and accuracy that matters, her play-making ability outside the circle is second-to-none. She is a threat inside and outside, meaning her direct opponent can’t double-team the shooter and if they do, she can punish from distance, as she does every week domestically for Lightning.
Cara Koenen
With the good fortune to be playing with Wood week-in, week-out at Sunshine Coast Lightning, the baseline queen has cemented her place in the Australian 12 this Super Netball season. Despite her side’s mixed results, 27-year-old Koenen sits high on the list of total goals and offensive rebounds for the league and hasn’t rested on her laurels since going to her first Commonwealth Games last year. The 190cm shooter has built on her ability to “post up” when needed, function in a graceful moving circle and play at goal attack if called on, all while rarely getting flustered by the best defenders in the world.
Kiera Austin
Another Birmingham golden girl, 25-year-old Austin will provide further stability and options in Marinkovich’s attack end after a solid if not spectacular Super Netball season for the Melbourne Vixens. Austin’s accuracy, combination with Vixen team mate Watson and defensive efforts through the midcourt make her indispensable at both local and world level. Her unflappability in high-pressure moments this season – such as sinking a super shot after the siren to win – will please the national coach, as will her domestic volume of centre pass receives, where she sits close to the top.
Donnell Wallam
The current form of Noongar woman Wallam has simply been too good to ignore – and is surely enough to see her named in the 12 as a replacement for the pregnant Gretel Bueta, who played alongside Wood, Koenen and Austin in Birmingham. In recent weeks, Wallam has put the Queensland Firebirds on her shoulders and led them to a number of unlikely late-season victories. Volume, accuracy and the ability to do things few in world netball can even dream of, Wallam will be the X factor, like Bueta was until she stepped away, for the Diamonds in Cape Town.
Reserve: Sophie Garbin
Playing out of position and for a side mired in controversy has taken its toll on Garbin’s form and confidence and by any objective measure, the Collingwood goaler has been overtaken by Wallam for the second shooter position in the squad. But her previous performances under Marinkovich – at shooter where she is more comfortable, rather than goal attack where she’s played this domestic season with little success – should be enough to see the 26-year-old given the gig as the shooting reserve.
